Geological Agency: Non- Solid Rock Strengthening Earthquake Oscillations Cianjur

Screenshot of the Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hendra Gunawan

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency stated that the characteristics of the rocks under the buildings around the affected areas were not solid enough to make earthquake shocks in Cianjur Regency, West Java, even stronger. “ The soil or rock is less consolidated because the rocks are relatively young. Where if an earthquake occurs, this will strengthen the effect of earthquake shocks,” said Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hendra Gunawan in a press conference that was attended online in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, November 22. Hendra said, apart from being due to young rocks, based on the results of the Geological Agency's mapping through PVMBG, Cianjur Regency is one of the areas with a high level of earthquake vulnerability. "Moreover, information from the BMKG is that the source of the earthquake was a shallow earthquake not far from the active fault of the baribis fault," he said. According to him, the Geological Agency will continue to look for the exact cause of the earthquake. However, currently, experts in the field of earthquakes owned by the Geological Agency are not balanced enough to handle the entire affected region. Thus, his party will collaborate and synergize with related parties to strengthen mitigation handling. "This is a mission of the Geological Agency in general to collaborate with parties who can strengthen mitigation management both with BRIN and academics, considering that the reach of work, especially in the field of earthquakes or landslides throughout Indonesia with experts, is not balanced enough," he said. While finding out more for sure about the cause and ongoing impact of the earthquake, he and his team will map the area based on low or high risk levels through several methods related to ground movement. "Many methods can be explored in the future, so that we can anticipate ground movement, including in this case the early warning system for earthquakes," he said.